ing extra attention to optimize the procurement and use of precious and expensive resources. Jobsites are constantly changing, but using a drone’s orthomosaic images, coupled with the derived point clouds, provides a wealth of information of what materials have been put in the ground and what is remaining. This can lead to lean procurement management, ensuring what is needed on site is available when needed and stored in the correct loca - tion. This is particularly important for paving and utility construction, extending the benefits of drones past simply validating the amount of dirt moved. It also enables a team to monitor a jobsite to gather intel for progress reporting and stockpile management. For example, operators can use drones to monitor equipment to ensure it is appropriately utilized and take quick action should they find unsafe or out of compliance condi - tions, further enhancing the job site’s safety. Better informed decisions to increase efficiency After capturing the data, it’s imperative to get the correct data in the hands of the right people on-site so they can make informed decisions on the most efficient way to complete the project. To overcome, AGTEK has created a suite of tools that allow users to quantify both earthwork and material quantities directly from their phone or tablet, measuring directly against orthophotos, detailed point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs), putting the data’s power to work in the field. This provides a feedback loop for the field to the office and back again to merge drone data with design, as-built, and on-site progress updates captured with photos, notes, and machine tracks. Verify assets and simplify workflow Contractors can also use drones to validate and hand over the asset to the owner, helping reduce the time needed with manual approaches. In
addition, taking this approach ensures the final product is constructed within specification, eliminating the need for costly fixes. The goal is to deploy a solution that simplifies the workflow of this process to move it from the realm of the specialist to enabling general - ists to take advantage of drone technology and data. This can save both time and money on key projects. Drones can play an instrumental role in verifying assets in locations where verifying data is particularly challenging, such as urban environ - ments or heavily canopied construction sites. For example, the Leica Aibot CX aerial digitization solution allows users to easily compare as-designed and as-built. This enables a trans - parent view of a site’s progression at every step of the project lifecycle of planning, design, construction and hand-over. Solutions today are making jobsites safer while saving contractors money. Yet, despite their proliferation, many contractors are unaware of the profound benefits drones bring to the modern jobsite. Many construction companies initially operated drones with the intent of always having them on hand at a site. However, they work best when they are not a 24/7, anywhere, anytime tool. Over time, companies’ plans for drones evolved into having a dedi - cated team of professionals who travel from site to site where their drone operating services are needed. Technology today should be the professional partner contractors deploy to save time and money, guarantee accurate data and drive projects forward. When implemented correctly, they provide another powerful tool in contractors’ arsenals.
TROY DAHLIN is vice president, heavy construction segment, US/CAN of Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon. For more information, please visit www.leica-geosystems.com.
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DECEMBER 2021 csengineermag.com
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